Daily Report – 4/23/26
Yankees
If these are the Red Sox of 2026, then “The Rivalry” is about to take a year off.
Thanks to Max Fried’s sparkly eight-inning masterpiece last night, the Yankees earned a 4-1 win in Beantown. The Yankees flirted with three straight shutout wins for the first time since 1962, and although they couldn’t get the third, they took the series from the Red Sox.
Ralph Terry, Bill Stafford, and Whitey Ford’s record remains intact. Max Fried did not allow any runs, but in the bottom of the ninth inning against Brent Headrick, Boston’s Jarren Duran singled to plate Trevor Story. It was no match, however, for the powerful Yankees’ bats, which struck early.
Amed Rosario drove in each of the Yankees’ four runs, including a first-inning three-run home run off Ranger Suarez that surpassed the Green Monster. Manager Aaron Boone played the third-base platoon card perfectly, starting Rosario against a tough lefty and subbing in Ryan McMahon later in the game for defensive security.
In the eighth inning, McMahon dove to catch a 95.4-mph line drive in midair, robbing Isiah Kiner-Falefa of an extra-base hit. The impressive play helped Fried stay in the game. Although the Yankees’ ace did not pitch in the ninth inning, he only allowed three hits and struck out nine batters over eight gorgeous frames.
“Playing the Red Sox is always a little different,” Fried said. “There’s a little bit more of an intensity to it. Especially this early on, we want to play our brand of baseball to try to win as many games as we possibly can.”
Fried joined Ryan Weathers and Luis Gil as the latest Yankee starter to shut out his opponent. Weathers lasted 7 1/3 innings on Sunday, and Gil went 6 1/3 innings yesterday.
“Obviously, starting pitching sets the tone for everything,” Boone said. “We know how tough this place is to play. Any time you can get wins early in the season, those are precious.”
With two wins this week, the Yankees set the tone early against Boston. So far, they have ensured that the Red Sox continue to score among the fewest runs per game. As Fried said, wins are important early in the season because you want to stack the deck while you’re hot. It is also important to beat the teams you are supposed to beat, and for the Bombers this year, the Red Sox feel like one of those teams.
It is also remarkable that a Yankees rotation without Carlos Rodón or Gerrit Cole leads all of baseball with a 2.67 ERA. The Yankees’ 3.16 team ERA is the best in the American League, even though their 4.04 bullpen ERA is the 14th-best in baseball. Fortunately, the Yankees have only had to use four relievers, including Headrick twice, since Sunday, saving their bullpen for the rest of this nine-game road trip.
Giancarlo Stanton, who continued his hot stretch at Fenway Park with a pair of doubles yesterday, is proud of his team’s pitching rotation. “It’s been incredible,” he said. “[The pitchers] have been dominant and really locked in. It’s easier on the offensive side when they’re going like that. They’ll continue to work and push the envelope.”
Yesterday was a strange day in Yankee Land because it started with The Athletic announcing that a group of players had pitched the idea of colored road alternate jerseys to management. The news received significant backlash, with many fans arguing that these players do not have the right to alter traditions unless they win a championship.
If the Yankees were to add a road alternate jersey, it would be navy blue with gray letters across the front spelling “New York.” The jerseys would look like this:
On the Fanatics website, you can select the color of your Yankees jersey. You can choose home pinstripes, road gray, a road navy alternate, or a home navy alternate. I am concerned that the Yankees are considering adding a home alternate jersey, not just one for the road.
I draw the line at changing the pinstripes. The pinstripes cannot be touched. I may be open to a plain navy jersey being worn at home once a week, but only on weekdays, and only at night. I will never accept adding player names to the backs of jerseys, and any alterations beyond the “Starr Insurance” patch are unacceptable.
I am, however, comfortable with a navy alternate jersey to be worn periodically on the road. Only on the road. That said, it would have been cool if the Yankees held out on alternate jerseys forever. It would set them apart from other teams. It would align with the Yankee way.
“I think we’ll always wear the pinstripes at home,” Captain Aaron Judge said. “I don’t think that’ll change, but we changed our road jersey [by removing the piping on the sleeves and around the letters] other years. I guess if we wear the blues, we wear the blues on the road.”
During yesterday’s game, Yankees beat writer Brian Hoch tweeted that the Yankees already have an alternate uniform that the league has approved for in-game use. He later clarified that the jerseys had been approved in 2025, but there is no timetable for when they will be worn in a game.
I am concerned that this change is merely the start of more changes to tradition. Apparently, the Yankees have had a navy alternate uniform hanging in their lockers in every road clubhouse this season, which suggests how easily they can make this change. They were quick to add a patch to their jerseys in 2023 and change the facial hair policy in 2025. What will come next?
“There’s a lot of tradition here,” Stanton said. “The most iconic jersey there is in sports, pretty much. But it doesn’t mean that every once in a while, you can’t change something up, especially on the road.”
Tonight, at 6:10 PM (5:10 PM CDT), the Yankees will send RHP Cam Schlittler (2-1, 1.95 ERA) to the mound against lefty Payton Tolle, making his first start of the season (YES, Gotham Sports).
Here is tonight’s starting lineup for the New York Yankees:
3B Amed Rosario (R)
RF Aaron Judge (C) (R)
1B Ben Rice (L)
DH Giancarlo Stanton (R)
LF Randal Grichuk (R)
CF Trent Grisham (L)
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L)
SS José Caballero (R)
C Austin Wells (L)
SP: RHP Cam Schlittler (2-1, 1.95 ERA)
Before this series, Schlittler reported he and his family received death threats from Red Sox fans after his strong start in the deciding game of last year’s AL Wild Card Series. However, Schlittler, whose father is the chief of police in Needham, Massachusetts, said the fans he met in person were “very respectful.”
Tonight will mark Schlittler’s first start in his hometown ballpark. “Some guys, I think, ‘The Rivalry’ feeds them a little bit,” he said. “Like it does for me.”
Giants
Tonight, the story will be written. The future will unfold. Jon Harbaugh’s plans will begin to bloom.
Last year, Joe Schoen scripted a significant chapter for the future by drafting Abdul Carter third overall and Jaxson Dart 25th. The Giants traded back into the first round to draft Dart as their quarterback of the future.
In 2024, the Giants drafted Malik Nabers sixth overall to be their star wide receiver. Next season, he will partner up with Dart for the first time.
But this year is different because of Harbaugh. It isn’t Schoen and Brian Daboll anymore; it’s Schoen and Harbaugh. They call the shots. And Giants fans can revel in the experience and expertise in the draft room tonight.
The future is coming.
Better days are ahead.
And it all begins tonight in Pittsburgh.
The best part of the NFL Draft is when a team shocks the league by acquiring an additional first-round pick during the active draft. Last year, the Giants won the first round by trading back in for Dart. If the Giants set their sights on a particular player tonight, like linebacker Sonny Styles, running back Jeremiyah Love, or safety Caleb Downs, they could trade up to get him.
The Giants have eight picks in this year’s draft, including two in the first round, one in each of the second, fourth, and fifth rounds, and three in the sixth. Therefore, they have the capital to trade up. Big Blue could also trade down if they don’t feel particularly compelled by any likely top-10 prospect.
Tonight, with the fifth and 10th-overall picks, the Giants will face immense pressure to draft the best players available. They secured the fifth overall pick from their poor position in the standings last season. They added the 10th-overall pick on Saturday by trading Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati.
Now, there is a gaping hole in the Giants’ defense. They have parted ways with their three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle. That does not mean the organization will be able to replace Lawrence’s production in this draft, let alone in the first round. Their defensive line was largely unimpressive last season, but it was filled with talented players. Meanwhile, their secondary left a lot to be desired.
I want the Giants to select Styles from Ohio State at fifth overall. After trading Lawrence, the defense needs a boost, and Styles is a talented linebacker with tremendous potential. If the Giants cannot acquire Styles, then they should focus on Caleb Downs, a strong Buckeyes safety. Their secondary needs require as much support as possible.
Many fans and experts believe the Giants could try to take Love, a phenomenal running back from Notre Dame. Love may get drafted earlier than Styles or Downs, and it would be fascinating for the future of the position if a running back comes off the board as a top-three pick.
I do not believe the Giants need another running back, though, since Tyrone Tracy and Cam Skattebo formed a reliable duo last season. Love is an upgrade, but he does not fill New York’s biggest need.
If the Giants choose to take an offensive player with one of their top-10 picks, and they don’t select a lineman, like Miami’s injury-prone Francis Muaigoa, then wide receiver is the only position Schoen and Harbaugh should focus on.
Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson is one wideout the Giants could select at 10. They could also trade up for Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, although this is unlikely. If given the choice at 10th overall, I would prefer the Giants draft a cornerback over a wide receiver. I like LSU’s Mansoor Delane. Tennessee’s Colton Hood is another decent option, and I prefer him over his injury-prone teammate, Jerod McCoy.
Tonight’s draft could be historic for the New York Football Giants. With Harbaugh at the helm, anything can happen.
Schedule
6:10 PM (5:10 PM CDT): NYY at BOS; YES, Gotham Sports; SP: RHP Cam Schlittler (2-1, 1.95 ERA) vs. LHP Payton Tolle (0-0, -.-- ERA)
7:00 PM (6:00 PM CDT): 2026 NBA Playoffs Round 1, Game 3 – New York Knicks (1-1) at Atlanta Hawks (1-1); Prime Video
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CDT): 2026 NFL Draft, Round 1; ESPN
Cover Image Courtesy: New York Yankees
